Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 316

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
MEKONG DELTA
It's not hard to get off the beaten track in the Mekong Delta, as most tourists are on hit-and-run day
trips from HCMC or passing through on their way to or from Cambodia. Here are some lesser-known
regional gems:
» Check out some Khmer culture in Tra Vinh , home to a significant population of Cambodians and
their beautiful temples.
» The Khmer kingdom of Funan once held sway over much of the lower Mekong; its principal port
was at Oc-Eo , located near Long Xuyen. Archaeologists have found ancient Persian and Roman arte-
facts here.
» Birding enthusiasts will want to make a diversion to Tram Chin Reserve near Cao Lang, a habitat
for the rare eastern sarus crane. These huge birds are depicted on the bas-reliefs at Angkor and only
found here and in northwest Cambodia.
» The small and secluded beach resort of Hon Chong has the most scenic stretch of coastline on the
Mekong Delta mainland. The big attractions here are Chua Hang Grotto, Duong Beach and Nghe Is-
land.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Can Tho
071 / POP 1.1 MILLION
The epicentre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho feels like a veritable metropolis after explor-
ing the backwaters. As the political, economic, cultural and transportation centre of the
Mekong Delta, Can Tho hums with activity. It's a buzzing town with a waterfront lined
with sculpted gardens and an appealing blend of narrow backstreets and wide boulevards
that make for some rewarding exploration.
Can Tho also makes the perfect base for visiting nearby floating markets. Cai Rang is
the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta, 6km from Can Tho towards Soc Trang.
Although the lively market goes on until around noon daily, show up before 9am for the
best photo opportunities. You can hire boats (about 100,000d per hour) here. Cai Rang is
one hour away by boat, or you can drive to Cau Dau Sau boat landing, where you can get
a rowing boat (per hr around 90,000d) to the market, 10 minutes away.
Less crowded and less motorised is the Phong Dien market , with more stand-up rowboats.
It's best between 6am and 8am. Twenty kilometres southwest of Can Tho, it's easy to
reach by road and you can hire a boat on arrival.